Shaker



Feb, l5, 1938. C, F, WALP 2,108,698

SHAKER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 3l, 1935 fi-Eli Q I I Caries E14/HQI BY/@W/,M

2 rraR/VEY CFI Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE SHAKER CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Application July. 31, 1935, Serial No. 34,021

8 Claims.

This invention deals with improvements in shaker chutes and primarily with means for connecting and supporting adjoining sections of chutes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simplified means for interconnection of chute sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined connecting and supporting element for chutes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of connecting means that may be readily removed without the use of wrenches or other special tools.

Arfurther object of the invention is the provision of connecting means in which all parts are held in position for use without danger of loss.

These and other objects will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the chute construction with parts broken away to more fully show the locking means;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the connecting means and is taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the end of the left hand chute of Fig.l; and

'Fig 4 is an end elevational view of the end of the right hand chute of Fig.'1.

Referring now to the drawing itis seen that the two chute sections A and B are joined together by the common supporting member C' and are held in the joined position by locking device D. The chutes are of accepted design comprising, bottom portion 2, inclined sides 4, and top flange 6.

The connecting and supporting member C is formed of two parts 8 and I0, each attached to its respective chute section A or B. The part 8 is of generally angular form, having one leg II of the angle bent to conform to the chute contour and adapted to be Welded as at W to the chute. The other leg I2 of the angle is directed downwardly to present a relatively large flat end facing I4, which facing is substantially continuous from side to side. The facing is provided with cut out windows or openings I6 and with corners notched as at I8 to provide clearance for the supporting wheels R. Wheel carrying plates are cut to t within and be Welded to the angle member 8 and are also provided with a rearwardly extending portion 22 for support of the locking device. A U-shaped piece of metal 24 has one end resting within the opening I6 from which it extends rearwardly between the wheel plates and to which it is welded as is also the upper forwardly directed portion 26 of the U. The back or web 28 of the U is provided with (Cl. ISS-220) an opening to receive the rear portion of a wedge member later to be described. A cup-shaped member 30 is welded between the wheel supporting members and is provided with a beveled base portion 32, the rear portion of which is flush with the inner part of the top leg of the U, al1 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A wedge member is built up of a central member 34, having a smooth lower surface, a notched upper surface and a rearward extension 36 and at either side the attached wedge plates 38 having upper inclined surfaces 4I] adapted to cooperate with the bevel base of the cup member. The forward or nose portion of the wedge is beveled at 42 to give a further wedging action as will be explained later. Mounted within the cup member is a spring urged plunger having a lower tooth engaging portion 44, spring engaging shoulder-46 and knob 48. A spring 50 surrounds the plunger stem and reacts against the shoulder and a washer 52 welded to the top leg of the angle member. Forged member 54, having a horizontal portion and upturned end portions 56, is welded to the face plate and has the inner part 58 thereof inclined toward the face plate. Slots 60 are provided in this forged member to provide drainage as well as permit insertion of a tool to pry out the coasting member in case of sticking.

'I'he part I0 is of angular formation also having one leg bent to conform to the chute contour and adapted to be welded as the other part to the chute. The downwardly directed ange 64 is provided with openings 66 reenforced at the lower edge by plates 68 welded in position and with cut out portions 'I0 in order that the flange may clear the portions 56 of the adjoining member. The central portion of this downwardly directed flange is upset, or otherwise worked, to provide a wedge-shaped portion 12 conforming in outline to the outline of the mating member 54.

The wheels R are cup-shaped and ride upon similarly shaped channel tracks T, which are suitably supported by cross-channels 14 to which they are welded.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the chutes as being dissembled, the chute B riding on its wheels at the opposite end is dragged into position and the lip or wedge portion 'I2 is dropped into the wedge-shaped mating member of chute section A. The wedge is then driven forward and the bevel 42, together with the inclined portion of the wedge, will force the chute B into rm engagement with the chute A and the spring pin will prevent anyl backward movement of the wedge. In disconnecting the sections it is simply necessary to lift the spring plunger or pin and drive the wedge backward. Thus -it is obvious that no special tools are required and it will be noted also that a bolt or. other means may be inserted in the hole 31 of the extension and the wedge cannot then become lost.

The device has been shown and described as made up of plates welded together, but this is purely representative, as they may be riveted together or the entire unit may be cast. These and other modifications and improvements will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a shaker chute, abutting trough sections, a trough conforming element secured to one of the sections, means connected to said element for supporting the element and trough, a second trough conforming element secured to the other trough section and formed with a downwardly directed lip portion, means secured to said first mentioned clement and adapted to receive said lip portion to connect the troughr sectionsv together, wedge members carried by said rst named means, said wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the troughs into engagement with both of said elements to retain the lip portion and said second named means in trough connecting relation, and locking means movable substantially at right angles to the wedge members vfor locking said wedge members in the element engaging position. i i

2. In a shaker chute, abutting troughsections, a trough conforming element securedY to'one of the sections, means secured to saidelement to provide an upwardly opening taperedv socket, a second trough conforming element secured to the other trough section and formed with a down-V wardly tapering lip portion, said lip portion being engageable with said socket to connect the trough sections together, and wedge members carried by one of said elements, said wedge members being also engageable with said other element to force the lip and socket into trough connecting position. Y

3. In a shaker chute, abutting trough sections, a trough conforming' element secured to one of the sections, means secured to said element to provide an upwardlyY opening tapered socket, a second trough conforming element secured to the other trough section and formed with a down- Wardly tapering lip portion, said lip portion being engageable with said socket to connect the trough sections together, wedge members carried by one of said elements, said wedge members being also engageable with said other element to jainb the lip and socket in trough connecting position, and

means carried by one of said elements and en ment and adapted to receive Vsaid lipiportion to provide an extended area connecting the trough sections together, wedge members carried above the rollers by said first named means, said wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the trough into engagement with both of said elements to retain thelip portion and said second named means in trough connecting relation, a plurality of teeth on said wedges, and locking means movable substantially at right angles to said wedges and engageable with said teeth for i locking said wedge members in any desired element engaging position.

5. In a shaker chute, a pair of abutting trough sections, a trough conforming element secured to one of ,the sections, means welded to said element and carrying rollers for supporting the element and trough, a second trough conforming element secured to the adjacent trough section and formed with a downwardly directed lip portion, means secured to said first mentioned element and adapted to receive said lip portion to connect the trough sections together, wedge members carried by said first named means, said wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the trough into engagement with both of said elements to retain the lipI portionV and said second named means in trough connecting relation, and locking means movable subs/tan tially at right angles to said wedge means for locking the wedge means in the element engagingV position.

6. In a shaker chute, a pair oi abutting trough sections, a trough conforming element secured to one-of the sections, means welded to said element and carrying rollers for supporting the element and trough, a second trough conforming element secured to the adjacent trough section and formed with a downwardly directed lip portion, means secured to said iirst mentioned elementand adapted to receive saidlip portion to .i

connect the trough sections together, wedge members carried by said first named means, said wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the trough into engagement with-both of said elements to retain the lip `portion and said second named means in troughV connecting relation, a plurality of teeth on said wedges, and locking means movable substantially at right angles to said wedge means and engageable with certain oisaid teethfror locking said wedge members in any desired element engaging position.

7. In a shaker chute, abutting trough sections, a trough conforming element secured to one of the sections, means secured to said element to provide a tapered socket, a second trough conforming element'secur'ed to the other trough section and formedV with a downwardly tapering lip portion, said lip portion being ,engageable' with said socket to connect the trough sections together, wedge members carried by one of said elements, said wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the trough sections into engagement with said other element to jamb the lip and socket in trough connecting position, and locking'means carried by one of said elements and movable substantially at right angles to said wedge member to lock the wedge in trough connecting position.

8. In a shaker chute, abutting trough sections, a trough confornnng element secured to one of the sections, means secured to said element to provide .an upwardly'opening Vtapered socket, a

' second trough conforming .element secured to the other Ytrough section and formed with a down-v wardly tapering lip portion, said lip portion being engageable with said socket to connect the trough Vsections together, wedge members carried by `one of said elements,fsaid wedge members being longitudinally movable relative to the trough sections into engagement with said other'element to cause relativetransverse movement of the troughs whereby the tapered socket and lip will wedge the 'trough sections together.

CHARLES F. WALP. 

